Man’s purpose is to worship and obey

In the creation account of Genesis 1-2, most English translations make it seem like Adam was put in the Garden for gardening purposes, since Genesis 2:15 says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” However, there may be something more beneath the terms translated “work” and “keep.”

The first verb is avid, which is “used frequently for spiritual service, specifically serving the LORD (Deut. 4:19) and for the duties of the Levites (see Num. 3:7-8; 4:23-24, 26).”¹

The second verb is shamar, whose “religious use is that of observing spiritual duties or keeping the commands (Lev. 18:5).”²

This understanding of these terms seems to fit more in a world that did not yet need gardening since there was no curse. Adam was not put in the garden to care for the garden; he was put their to worship and obey God. Ross concurs:

“In places where these two verbs are found together, they often refer to the duties of the Levites (cf. Num. 3:7-8; 8:26; 18;5-6), keeping the laws of God (especially in the sanctuary service) and offering spiritual service in the form of the sacrifices and all the related duties—serving the LORD, safeguarding his commands, and guarding the sanctuary from the intrusion of anything profane or evil.”³

Put very simply, man’s purpose is to worship and obey, which is of course reflected in many passages of Scripture, not the least of which is Isaiah 43:7:

everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

© 2011, Scott Aniol. All rights reserved.

Scott Aniol

Scott Aniol holds a bachelor's degree in church music from Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC), a master's degree in musicology from Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL), and has studied theology at Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Plymouth, MN) and Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. He was ordained to to the gospel ministry by First Baptist Church (Rockford, IL) in April of 2004. As the executive director of Religious Affections Ministries, Scott speaks on the subjects of music and worship at various churches and conferences. His most recent speaking engagements include the Preserving the Truth Conference, Central Seminary’s Foundations Conference, International Baptist College, and Bob Jones Seminary. Click here to read and/or listen to important talks from Scott Aniol. Curriculum vitae

Endnotes:

1. Ross, Recalling the Hope of Glory, 105. [↩]
2. Ibid. [↩]
3. Ibid. [↩]

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